The Fed Blog

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

US Oil Production Is Gushing (excerpt)

While Washington is mired in gridlock, the High-Tech Revolution, which started in the early 1990s, is evolving into a New Industrial Revolution. Innovations produced by the IT industry are revolutionizing lots of other ones including manufacturing, energy, transportation, health care, and education.

High-tech tools certainly have contributed to the extraordinary productivity of the US energy industry. Gushers in the oil patch could more than offset gridlock inside the Beltway. In just the past two years, US crude oil field production is up 40% from 5.8mbd to 8.1mbd through the week of September 20. That’s the highest since October 1988. US exports of petroleum products rose to a record 3.3mbd. Net imports are down to 6.5mbd, half as much as at the record peak during 2005.

America isn’t on the brink of energy independence, but it is heading in that direction at a faster pace. The Naysayers say it won’t happen because much of the surge in production is attributable to fracking of old oil wells that deplete in a few months after they are tapped for a second time. Maybe so, but let’s not underestimate the ability of entrepreneurs to use both high-tech and low-tech to boost oil production.

Today's Morning Briefing: Gushers vs. Gridlock. (1) America to Washington: DO NO HARM! (2) This too shall pass. (3) Might the Fed expand rather than taper QE? (4) Jobs survey suggests jobless rate heading for 7% soon. (5) Q3 earnings expected to be up 4.2% y/y. (6) Negative surprises among Financials? (7) The year after next is expected to be another good one for earnings. (8) New Industrial Revolution comes to the oil patch. (9) Heading towards energy independence at a faster pace. (10) Fracking with gas. (More for subscribers.)

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ABOUT: Dr. Ed Yardeni is the President and Chief Investment Strategist of Yardeni Research, Inc., a provider of independent investment strategy and economics research. This blog highlights excerpts from our research service, which is designed for investment and business professionals.

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